Whybro History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Scotland

Etymology of Whybro

The Whybro family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from Wigburh, a feminine name meaning "war-fortress." It was recorded once in 901 (as a personal name) and did not appear again until the 12th century. The record of the name from the 12th century is from Suffolk, where Wyburgh was recorded in church records in Bury, sometime between the years 1182 and 1211. This makes this name a metronymic vernacular name. The vernacular or regional naming tradition is the oldest and most pervasive type of metronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names that were derived from ancient Germanic personal names have cognates in most European languages. For example, the court of Charlemagne (742-814) was Christian and Latin-speaking, but the Frankish dialect of Old German was commonly used for personal names. Vernacular names were widespread throughout Normandy. Accordingly, many typical English and French names are in fact, originally of Germanic origin and often have cognates in other European countries.

Early Origins of the Whybro family

Early History of the Whybro family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Whybro research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1461 is included under the topic Early Whybro History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Whybro Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Whybro include Wybrew, Wibbery, Wybbery, Whybrew, Whybrow, Wyebrough, Wybrow and many more.

Early Notables of the Whybro family

More information is included under the topic Early Whybro Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Whybro family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Whybro were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: John WyBerry settled in Barbados in 1635.